Streets of Fire: Over-the-Top 80s Goodness (and Diane Lane!)

Okay, folks, I finally got around to watching "Streets of Fire." Honestly? I went in expecting some cheesy 80s action flick, and while it WAS cheesy, it was gloriously cheesy. Like, full-on neon-drenched, saxophone-solo-blasting cheese. I wasn't familiar with the director, but whoever was in charge knew exactly what they were doing to give that whole era of filmmaking exactly where it needed to be. But let's talk about Diane Lane for a sec. She's the reason I even wanted to see this! She's playing Ellen Aim, the singer, and she KILLS it. The whole 'damsel in distress' thing could've been so boring, but she brings this fierce energy. Plus, the costumes? Iconic. Ellen's stage presence is captivating, thanks to the song, and Lane's acting is superb. Michael Paré as Tom Cody is fine, I guess, but he's mostly just there to look tough and brood. Rick Moranis as the manager was also great. Willem Dafoe as Raven...okay, that performance was a bit much, even for this movie. That said, he was also kinda perfect for the part, if that makes sense? The way he oozed menace was kinda terrifying. The Sledgehammer bit was perfect for that character and the whole ridiculous vibe they were trying to create. The set design and the fight choreography are something else. It's like they threw every 80s trope into a blender and hit 'puree.' I'm not sure if it's good in a traditional sense, but it's incredibly entertaining. I can see why cult classic status is a thing. The whole tone of the movie just works in a strangely compelling way, despite it not being the best performance I've ever seen. I'll say one last thing - Diane Lane in her prime was chef's kiss in this movie. Anyone else obsessed with this movie, or is it just me going full retro weirdo again?